Free Throws Prove The Difference In Overtime Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (1/25/14)—In the end it was free throws that turned out to be the difference between a loss in regulation and a win in overtime. The Cobbers made a pair of foul shots at the end of overtime to beat Gustavus 73-71 after the Gusties missed a free throw at the end of the second half that would have won the game.

The two-point extra-session victory runs Concordia's win streak to seven games. It is the longest win streak of the season and marks the second straight season they have run off an extended victory streak in the middle of the coldest month of the year. CC runs their overall season record to 13-3 while they jump to 11-2 against league opponents. Gustavus sees their overall record fall to the .500 mark at 8-8. The Gusties are 5-8 in MIAC play.

The first half gave no indication that the game would be decided in overtime with either team having a chance to win. Concordia seized control of the contest from the very first few minutes of the first half. The Cobbers got out to a 10-0 lead and then pushed the margin to 13 points at 16-3. CC still took a double-digit lead into the break by getting a layup in the final seconds of play.

The game would take a black and gold turn three minutes into the second period. Concordia came out and hit on one of their first two field goal attempts and made three of four free throws to take an 11-point lead at 37-26. The Gusties then found their offensive rhythm and scored 13 of the next 15 points to tie the game at 39-39. They would score the next point and take their first lead of the game with 14:48 left to play in regulation.

Concordia got off the mat and back on their feet by putting together a 9-0 run and looked to have put the Gusties away for good. But like a B-movie monster, Gustavus refused to go away and wound up whittling the lead down to three points with 1:01 left to play.

The Cobbers then missed on a layup with 43-seconds left, a reoccurring theme in the dying minutes of regulation and into overtime, and then Gustavus made a jumper to cut the lead to one point at 63-62. The Gusties fouled with just under 20-seconds left and then went for the win on the last possession of the second half. A drive to the basket produced a foul and two free throws with 3-seconds left on the clock. The Gustie player sank the first foul shot but then missed the second and the game limped into overtime.

Given their turn to close out the game in the final minute, Concordia made sure there would be no second extra session. With the score tied at 71-71, the Cobbers tracked down a long rebound after a missed field goal and then called timeout with 11-seconds left to set up the game-winning shot. Senior Erika Jossart took the ball, drove to the basket and was fouled. She made sure the opportunity to claim the win wouldn't go a-begging and made both foul shots to complete the 73-71 win.

The Cobbers received a balanced scoring attack from their first five players. All five of Concordia's scored in double figures. With the two made free throws, Jossart finished with a team-high 15 points. She went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe and is now shooting 72.5% from the free throw line.

Alexandra Lippert put up 13 points in the game following her 1,000th-point contest. Olivia Johnson made several clutch baskets down the stretch and came away with 12 points. She also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Freshman guard Greta Walsh also had 12 points and was 4-for-9 from the floor. Alley Fisher was the final starter in double figures. She had 10 points to go along with three rebounds and three assists. Concordia is now 10-0 when Fisher scores in double figures.

Concordia will put their seven-game win streak, and end their three-game home stand, when they host Bethel on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 5:45 p.m. The Royals handed the Cobbers one their three losses on the year when the two teams met at the beginning of December.